Steinberg's professional career began after he was discharged from the
army in 1900. He first played pro football with the
Syracuse Athletic Association. While with Syracuse, Paul also played for the club's pro basketball team, making him the first Jewish basketball player. In 1902, Paul signed with
Philadelphia Athletics baseball team, managed by
Connie Mack. He remained with the team from 1902 to 1904, however he never appeared in a
major league game. However, in 1902 Mack organized and coached a professional football team also called the Philadelphia Athletics. Steinberg played
halfback for the Athletics, which won the Philadelphia city title, before losing the league championship to the
Pittsburgh Stars. After the season, he joined the
Syracuse Athletic Club in the first World Series of Football. Syracuse won the tournament held at
Madison Square Garden. Steinberg joined the
Franklin Athletic Club, located in
Pennsylvania. The team was backed by the head of the
Carnegie Steel Company was so good that they had difficulty finding opponents. That year Franklin went on to win the Pennsylvania state title. After their championship win Franklin, traveled to New York City, and won the second World Series of Football. In 1905, Paul moved to
Canton, Ohio and played that year with the
pre-National Football League version of the
Canton Bulldogs, then known as the Canton Athletic Club. In Canton, Steinberg experienced the huge rivalry between Canton and the
Massillon Tigers. In 1905, Massillon defeated Steinberg and Canton for the championship and Canton vowed to claim the title the following year. By 1906, Steinberg became known as the Bulldogs' best-known player and remained with Canton as one of the team's top backs. After both Canton and Massillon defeated their regular season opponents, a two-game championship was set up between the two teams. Canton won the first game, 10–5, for the team's biggest victory ever, but Massillon recovered to win the second game, 13–6, claiming the Ohio State Championship for the fourth consecutive year. After the games, however, rumors existed
that some Canton players had thrown the game. Disgusted by the allegations, Steinberg quit professional football. ==See also==